Author Archive for nini – Page 3

The main tenets of our mission are:
◊ To approach dance education as a way to feed both body and soul
◊ To inspire dancers thus renewing or igniting a greater passion for danceOur goals include:
◊ Expanding dancers’ concepts and understanding of the definition and limits of jazz dance
◊ Offering a well rounded dance curriculum with diverse, high caliber teachers
◊ Providing a dynamic and exciting learning environment that downplays competition in favor of focusing on “personal best”
◊ Providing a supportive setting in which students can receive feedback on their choreography and perform their own works in a professional setting
◊ Supporting the growth of our students, not only as dancers but as human beings.

Lauren is a performing artist, choreographer, contemplative teacher, yoga instructor, and active mama. She holds an MFA in Dance from The University of Colorado Boulder with an emphasis in collaborative improvisation and performance. Lauren has performed nationally and internationally with Colorado based companies Helander Dance Theater, 3rd Law Dance/Theatre, David Capps/Dances, Interweave Dance Theater, Kim Olson/Sweet Edge, as well as New York City companies Curt Haworth and Dancers, Ellis Wood Dance and Peter Sciscioli. Lauren has co-created and collaborated on interdisciplinary performances with Brooke Gessay, Mark McCoin, Jessica Hendricks, Amanda Leise, and Jimmy Lusero. Her creative work has been presented in Colorado, New York City, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She has been on faculty at the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop for over ten years and facilitates dance and movement exploration classes at Running River School K-8. Lauren is also on faculty in the dance department of CU-Boulder and has taught Performance Improvisation, Jazz Fusion technique, and Looking at Dance. Her current creative research seeks to engage performance as a site for cultural critique and the body as means of expressing the most pressing questions of the human experience.

Nancy is the proud owner/director of One Big Yes Productions. In October 2014, OBY was delighted to present Badaboom! at the Dairy Center in Boulder, a sold-out show featuring the work of 9 extraordinary artists. 2015 holds a full performance schedule for Nancy including: Dance Gallery with Wade Madsen (Bellingham WA), Full Tilt (Seattle), Her Many Gifts (Boulder), and One Big Yes Presents! (Boulder). Nancy is also a featured panelist for the Wild Summit 2015 (Denver). Visit the One Big Yes Productions website to learn more about Nancy and her activities! Nancy Cranbourne’s love affair with teaching dance has spanned 37 years. She has taught at University of Colorado, Colorado State University, the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Cornish College, University of Washington, and nationwide in numerous workshops and residencies. Nancy has been a guest artist for BJDW for over 30 years. It is one of the families she holds most dear. Nancy teaches passionately at the Dairy Center and Alchemy of Movement throughout the year in Boulder.

Rachael Harding grew up in Northern California. She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a BS in Business Management from the University of Arizona. For five years, Mrs. Harding was a member of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver and was assistant rehearsal director in her final season. Rachael spent time traveling and living in Europe as a freelance artist while also touring throughout the States as a solo dancer with winds quintet, Imani Winds, in “Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot.” She has worked with Denver and Boulder based companies and choreographers; Davis Contemporary, Interweave Dance Theatre, Kim Robards, Moraporvida, Nancy Cranbourne, Linzee Klinenberg and Opera Colorado. She is currently dancing in the Boulder based Jazz Company New Breed and teaches for Denver Dance Starz. Rachael’s choreography has been seen with Aspen Dance Connection, Nexus in Boulder, Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and in Opera Colorado’s production of Rusalka.

Kelsey Kempfer is a Boulder Native who received Bachelor Degrees in Dance and Sociology from the University of Colorado. She started dancing at the age of three, and trained with the City of Boulder’s Expressions Dance Company and Grace Studios School of Dance. Over the years she has danced in works by Nancy Cranbourne, Linzee Klinkenberg, Helander Dance Theater, David Dorfman, Peekaboo Sole Productions, Susan Marshall, Rennie Harris, Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer, Onye Ozuzu, Erika Randall, Gabriel Masson, and Larry Southall. While at CU, Kelsey performed in the gala concerts for the American College Dance Festivals in Montana and Utah. She was awarded the Jamie Kellam Redmond Scholarship and the Talent and Creativity University Dance Award, along with being a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the National Scholar Honor’s Society. Kelsey has extensive performance, competition, and choreographic experience and has been trained in the styles of Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, and West African Dance. She has also taught dance at Grace Studios School of Dance for the past ten years. As a hip-hop teacher Kelsey teaches a variety of styles ranging from House to Funk.

Page Jenkins graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance. She is currently dancing for 3rd Law Dance/Theater, Louder Than Words Dancetheatre and New Breed Dance Company. Page teaches for Colorado Ballet, the Denver School of the Arts, and is also the Assistant Artistic Director of Colorado Youth Dance Theatre. She is excited to be a part of New Breed and to work with such incredible people and artists.

Mimi Ferrie is a Colorado dance artist who has been performing, teaching and choreographing for over fifteen years. Mimi graduated with her BFA in Dance from the University of Colorado in 2007. Mimi has taught extensively across Colorado and has become a sought after educator with her strong emphasis in technique, performance and creative development. She has performed with several local dance companies including New Breed, Impact Dance, Louder Than Words Dance Theatre, One Big Yes Productions, Interweave Dance Theatre, and Wild Heart. Mimi has choreographed works for Interweave Dance Theatre, New Visions Dance Festival, Denver Independent Choreographers Project and Fort Collins Children’s Theatre. In 2009 she co-founded Peekaboo Sole Productions, a performing arts organization committed to providing artistic exchange and performance opportunities for students and artists in the Boulder/Denver area.